Game apparatus.



L. M. WHITE & R. J SAOKETT. GAME APFARATUS.

APPLIGAI'ION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

1,013,709. I Patented Jan.2, 1912.

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mmwboz/ L. M. WHITE & RfJ. SAGKETT.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnron;

LOUIS M. WHITE AND ROBERT J. SACKETT, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNORS TO NEW ORLEANS SPECIALTY 00., OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, A FIRM.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS M. WHITE and ROBERT J. SAoKnrT, citizensof the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to game apparatus and more especially to a means for rafliing designed to be played individually by the players and characterized with havlng an arrangement of voluntary selection wherein the degree or chance of winning rests entirely with each individual player.

The object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which will create interest and give amusement to the end of inviting the expenditure of money on the part of the public and the legitimate disposal of merchandise in general by the backer or proprietor.

With these, and other objects in View the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details shown and described, still for the purpose of disclosure reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus as exhibited. Fig. 2 is a rear eleva tion thereof, and; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 2 taken on the line 3-3.

Referring to the construction in detail and with like characters indicating the same parts inthe different views shown, 1 indicates a board having the front face thereof covered by a fabric sheet 2 on which appears a map, preferably that of the United States as shown in Fig. 1. A blank space 3 above the map is designed to have printed or otherwise indicated thereon instructions and the like relating to the game; and in a space 4 is the representation of a telephone,

the purpose whereof will be presently explained.

The board 1 is provided with a plurality of apertures 5 that extend entirely through the board (see Fig. 3) and are disposed in substantially the relation shown in Fig. 1 wherein said apertures are located at the positions occupied by the more important cities of the different States. A metallic sheet 6 is secured against the back of the board 1 and closes all of the apertures and provides electrical contacts. Said sheet is designed to be of highly conductive metal and is secured in position by a cross piece 6 and end pieces 7 fastened by the screws 8. Said apertures are arranged in two divisions, in one of which the contacts are left open or exposed and in the other said contacts are covered or guarded by stops 7 that fit tightly within theapertures and are of substantially one half the length thereof, thus giving all of the apertures the appearance of being precisely alike from the exterior.

The signaling apparatus consists in a dry battery 8 contained within a casing that is secured to the back of the board 1 and comprising a bottom section 9, a back section 10, a top section 11 and end sections 12. The bottom section 9 is disposed at an angle with respect to the board 1 whereby said board is supported on an incline, the purpose whereof being to present the apparatus on view to the best advantage. Mounted on the top 11 of the casing is a bell 13 having a striker; 1 1 that is actuated through the medium of the usual magnet contained in the casing 15. A conductor 16 connects the post 17 of said magnet with a similar post 18 on the battery 8, and a like connection 19 connects with the conductor sheet 6.

The device which is used by the player for selecting the different sockets or city designations on the map consists in a flexible conductor 20 for closing a circuit through the contact sheet 6 and sounding the bell. Said conductor 20 is fixed to the post 21 and passes through an opening 22 in the board 1, and which is located in such relation to the telephone designation in the space 4: as will give the apparatus the appearance of a telephone switch board in a telephone exchange. A plug 23 secured to the end of the conductor 20 is designed to be inserted in the sockets or apertures 3 by the player and when such aperture is selected as will allow the plug 23 to contact with the conductor plate 6 the circuit will be closed and the bell sounded as will be understood. If on the other hand the plug 23 be inserted in a socket containing a stop 7 the circuit will not of course be closed and the bell accordingly not sounded.

In its actual operation the apparatus is presented in full View of the purchaser and for a sum, say fifteen cents, the purchaser is permitted to take a chance. In the event that he inserts the plug 23 in a socket which will sound the bell he receives from the merchant merchandise or other article to the value of say seventy-five cents. If the bell does not ring it is proposed that the customer shall receive an article having an appreciable value, thus removing the playing of the game from the criticism usually applied to gambling.

hat is claimed is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an electric signaling device, a board having a plurality of sockets distributed thereon, contacts in some of said sockets and stops in others of said sockets, and a circuit closing device for fitting within said sockets, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an electric signaling device, a board having a plurality of sockets distributed thereon, a metallic strip providing contacts in said sockets, stops in some of said sockets covering their respective contacts; and a circuit closing device for fitting within said sockets, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a board provided with a plurality of distributed apertures, an electric signaling device, circuit closing contacts for some of said apertures connected with the signaling device, stops located in others of said apertures, and a flexible conductor for fitting Within said apertures, substantially as described.

4:. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a board provided with a plurality of apertures, an electric conductor plate secured against said board to close said apertures and provide contacts, plugs in some of said apertures covering their respective contact-s, an electrical signaling device, an electric conductor connecting said signaling device and plate, and a flexible electric conductor connected with the signaling device and adapted to close circuits through the contacts in said apertures, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a board provided.

with a plurality of apertures therethrough, an electric conductor plate secured against said board to close said apertures and provide contacts, stops in some of said apertures covering said contacts, a casing secured against said board and providing a support therefor, a battery located in said casing, a signaling device mounted on the casing; conductors connecting said signaling device, battery, and metallic plate; a flexible conductor connected with said signaling device, and a plug on said flexible conductor adapted to be inserted insaid apertures, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS M. WHITE. ROBT. J. SACKETT. WVitnesses:

BERTRAND J. CAHN, PETER R. FERRERA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

